SHILLONG, May 15 – The Centre will ensure setting up of at least one major food processing industry in every state of the North Eastern Region, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries (MFPI) N T Shanmugan has announced. Addressing a business meet on food processing industries in North Eastern Region at Hotel Polo Towers here today, the Union Minister informed that his ministry has sanctioned five ‘Food Parks’ in the region in the states of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
The Ministry has formulated a number of plan schemes to promote food processing in the country and enhanced level of assistance i.e. 33.33 per cent of the capital cost subject to Rs 75 lakh is available for setting up of a new unit or for upgradation or modernization of the existing units, he further informed. Under the Mini Mission the level of asssistance is still higher i.e. 50 per cent of the capital cost subject to Rs 4 crore for the new units and upto Rs one crore for modernization of the existing units subject to certain conditions. So far, Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Assam have not taken benefit of the assistance under the Mini Mission, Shanmugan informed. The minister also informed that the sub-office at Guwahati would be upgraded to a full-fledged regional office of the Ministry and made operational soon.
Earlier, delivering her welcome address, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Smt Pratibha Karan observed that the ‘North East is very high on the priority of the Ministry.’ The Centre is keen to give a ‘special boost for development of the food processing sector in the North East, which its abundant natural resources has boundless potential for growth,’ she added.
The food processing industry in the region suffers from a number of constraints like lack of infrastructure, lack of training facilities, difficultty in access to technology, difficulty in access to finance, Karan noted and added that the Government would evolve definite strategies to addesss these concerns.
Addressing the meet, Meghalaya Minister of Agriculture, PM Syiem observed that frequent visits by Union ministers has boosted the morale of the people of the north east which had felt neglected all along. Observing that 80 per cent of Meghalaya’s populace depended on agriculture for their livelihood, the minister urged the Centre to boost this sector. State Minister for Industries P Tynsong also made similar appeals to the Union minister.